Aufgang Travel Celebrates 65th Anniversary

With Suzanne Christie

In 1949 there weren’t a lot of travel agencies operating in Canada... and even fewer of those who were still are!

So, a celebration was in order as Aufgang Travel celebrated its 65th anniversary of serving the Jewish community last week.

Well known and respected Toronto travel retailer Emile Aufgang’s father Isaac opened his storefront at Spadina and College on October 7th 1949. Their niche was arranging travel to Europe for displaced Jews following WWII... primarily by steamship of course.

Emile continued the family tradition broadening Aufgang’s scope and riding the wave of increasing interest in travel to Israel following 1967’s Six Day War. Emile retired in 2005 after selling the business to YYZ Travel Group the previous year. As YYZ President Alexandra Pelts explains, Aufgang “had already established an impeccable reputation for service. I always aspired to establish that same kind of success for our business.” The acquisition of Aufgant Travel helped YYZ solidify a larger share of the Israel market and strengthened their ties to the Jewish community.

Aufgang continues to operate under its own brand with many of the same staff still offering Holy Land and specialized Bar & Bat Mitzvah tours, incentive trips and conventions but has also expanded their scope to include tours of interest to Jewish travellers throughout the world.

The party at YYZ’s Thornhill offices on the 7th was a tribute to Emile and the Aufgang staff members who are carrying on the family tradition along with their new mentors. Guests toasted Emile as he recounted some of his great memories of entering the family business and learning the ropes as well as the special relationships the agency has had and continues to have both in Israel and here in Canada.

Click here to see more pics from the Aufgang Travel 65th Anniversary Party…